Thoughts and Quotes on Prayer

Thoughts and Quotes on Prayer

I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God- it changes me.
- C.S. Lewis

Prayer is the raising of the mind to God. We must always remember this. The actual words matter less.
- Pope John XXIII

"Now -- here is my secret:
    I tell it to you with an openness of heart I doubt I shall ever achieve again, so I pray that you are in a quiet room as you hear these words. My secret is that I need God - that I am sick and can no longer make it alone. I need God to help me give, because I no longer seem capable of giving; to help me to be kind, as I no longer seem capable of kindness; to help me love, as I seem beyond able to love."
- Douglas Coupland - Life After God

"Pray, and pray more. It may seem odd to say that now when you are taking examinations and working harder. But you need prayer, and not only the habitual prayer as an exercise of devotion; you also need to pray during odd moments, to pray between times, instead of allowing your mind to wander on stupidities. It does not matter if, in spite of your effort, you do not manage to concentrate and be recollected. That meditation may be of greater value than the one you made, with all ease, in the oratory."
- Saint Josemaria Escriva - The Furrow 449

"Praying actualizes and deepens our communion with God. Our prayer can and should arise above all from our heart, from our needs, our hopes, our joys, our sufferings, from our shame over sin, and from our gratitude from the good. It can and should be a wholly personal prayer."
- Pope Benedict XVI

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body and prayer is to the soul."
- Matthew Kelly

I believe in the power of prayer. I have seen miracles, some that took time and some immediately. I believe there are only three answers to prayer; yes, no, and not right now. In my own life and the lives of others I know I have seen too often someone stop prayer believing the answer was no, when in fact it was a 'not right now'. I think about the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. Luke 18:1-8. What if she has not been as persistent, would she have received her judgement?

The older I get, the less answers I have. But the more I trust and the more I pray. At times praying is all I can do, and I do it throughout the day. I have some prayers I try and pray every day. And others I pray from time to time. But I pray. I pray for every friend's birthday that comes up on Facebook. I pray for everyone woman I find out is expecting. I pray for the all the birth and death announcements that come out from our school board. And I pray for my wife and children, my family, my friends. And I pray to become a better man. To become the best version of myself.

Motherhood isn't for Sissies

Motherhood isn't for Sissies

My wife wrote this earlier today. I share it here with her permission. 

"A friend said to me recently that Motherhood isn't for Sissies. Man, was she right. Motherhood is taking your child to a specialist appointment out of town at a terrible time of day, only to get news you don't want to hear. Motherhood is hiding your tears so that your child doesn't also get upset. Motherhood is driving home again in heavy traffic while your child throws up in the back. Motherhood is trying to tell your child that the paper bag they just threw up into is going to burst all over them. Motherhood is trying to get your soiled child out of their pants and into another seat while driving down a busy highway (o.k. traffic was basically stopped, but still). Motherhood is getting your sweater off so that your pantless child behind you can stay warm while you drive home with the windows down in 6 degree weather. Motherhood is not getting upset at having to clean the soiled car so that your child will not feel worse than they already do. Motherhood is summoning the ability to be interested in your other children when your brain just wants to shut down for a few minutes. Motherhood is beautiful, difficult, rewarding, exhausting and it is not for Sissies."

2017-11-22 An Update from Andrea now that we have been able to let family and some close friends know.

"To add to my post from the other night: Motherhood is abut sharing your struggles so you can get the support that you need!! I want to thank everyone for their unbelievable support, encouragement and prayers. Just to give you all a little more information: Liam has a significant case of Scoliosis. We knew he had a curve, but it was a bit of a shock to see the X-rays. The next step is an MRI to see if there are tumours along his spine causing the curve (these would be from the condition he was born with, Neurofibromatosis). When those results come in they will be able to determine the next steps. We are believing with all of you for protection and healing of our sweet little boy."

DOCAT: Catholic Social Teaching for Youth - YOUCAT

DOCAT: Catholic Social Teaching for Youth
YOUCAT
Bernhard Meuser (Editor)
Ignatius Press
ISBN 9781621640493
eISBN 9781681497051
ASIN B01M10336X

This past year I decided to read through the Catechism in a year. And I ended up ahead of schedule, so when I finished the Catechism of the Catholic Church, I moved on to The Compendium to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. So I decided to read DOCAT: Catholic Social Teaching for Youth and I really enjoyed it. In fact I enjoyed it so much I am now reading YOUCAT: The Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church. But back to DOCAT: Catholic Social Teaching for Youth.

Like many other Catechisms this one is in the question and answer format. The subtitle of this book is ‘What to do?’ It focuses on the social teachings of the Catholic Church. There are four symbols in the book. A Bible which highlights passages from the bible. Quotations which highlights specific meanings in the church. A Picture of a church which contains magisterial teachings. And an Exclamation Mark where words are defined or explained. There are also three colored arrows blue for the Compendium of Social Doctrine, grey for the Catechism, and Yellow for quotes from YOUCAT.

Each chapter has a number of points the questions and answers, And then there are a number of quotes from church documents to highlight those teachings. The chapters in the book are:

1 God’s Master Plan: Love 1-21
2 Together We Are Strong: The Church’s Social Mission 22-6
3 Unique and Infinitely Valuable: The Human Person 47-83
4 The Common Good, Personhood, Solidarity, Subsidiarity: The Principles of the Church’s Social Teaching 84-111
5 The Foundation of Society: The Family 112-133
6 Occupation and Vocation: Human Work 134-157
7 Welfare and Justice for All: Economic Life 158-194
8 Power and Morality: The Political Community 195-228
9 One World, One Humanity: The International Community 229-255
10 Safeguarding Creation: The Environment 256-269
11 Living in Freedom from Violence: Peace 270-304
12 Personal and Societal Commitment: Love in Action 305-328

Though this book is written for youth and young adults, I found it well worth the time and effort to read it. The social teachings of the Catholic Church have been a growing focus for a long time now. In this book you will get a concise clear picture of those teachings, and though the quotes from church documents see some of their progression and refinement over time. This is the first book from the YOUCAT series that I have read but I know I will be reading many more. And in fact I cannot wait for the last few to be available in English in North America.

A great read, informative and challenging. This book was so good that before I even finished it I had picked up YOUCAT and the YOUCAT Bible to have to read as soon as I finished this one. It is a wonderfully informative book and part of what looks like an incredible series!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books from YOUCAT:
YOUCAT: The Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church
YOUCAT: Study Guide
YOUCAT: Youth Prayer Book
YOUCAT: Confirmation Book: Student Book
YOUCAT: Confession Book
YOUCAT: Bible
DOCAT: Catholic Social Teaching for Youth
DOCAT Study Guide: What to Do?

Related Posts:

Catholic Christianity - Peter Kreeft - A Complete Catechism of Catholic Beliefs Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church

YOUCAT Confession - YOUCAT

Catechism of the Catholic Church: Second Edition 

The Companion to the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Introduction to the Catechism of the Catholic Church 

Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church in a Year

Catholic Catechism Dialogue blog

Catechism of the Catholic Church, Ascension Edition

The Catechism in a Year Companion, Volume I

The Catechism in a Year Companion, Volume II

The Catechism in a Year Companion, Volume III

…

Books from the Council of Baltimore:

Baltimore Catechism One

Baltimore Catechism Two

Baltimore Catechism Three

Baltimore Catechism Four

Manual of Prayers: For the Use of the Catholic Laity - Third Plenary Council of Baltimore 

The Little Office of Baltimore - Claudio R Salvucci - Traditional Catholic Daily Prayer

…

Some Days

Some days ...

...no matter how much goes on you can only smile, be thankful, and pray.
Today was one of those days.

Holy Desperation: Praying as If Your Life Depends on It - Heather King

Holy Desperation: Praying as If Your Life Depends on It
Heather King
Loyola Press
ISBN 9780829445145
ASIN B06XQ7619T

The title of this book ‘Holy Desperation’, grab my attention immediately. Also the subtitle of the book ‘Praying as If Your Life Depends on It’ spoke to me. There have been times where all that has kept me going is prayer; even times when my faith was a struggle, prayer got me through some really tough times. So I dove in with great anticipation. But the book was not quite what I expected. But the book was not as what I expected it to be. The book was far more autobiography, and about service, reaching out and going beyond your comfort zone than it was a guide to praying especially in hard times. Now don’t get me wrong there was a lot about praying. And specifically praying when you don’t think you should, or don’t feel you should.

The chapters in this book are:
About Fr. Damien
Part One Crisis.
1 The Prayer of Desperation
2 Grabbed by the Throat
3 What Do We Mean by God?
4 The Set-Aside Prayer
Part Two Death: To Our Old Ideas and Supposed Unlovability 
5 “Stay Awake!”.
6 Where Two or More Are Gathered in My Name
7 I Call You Friends .
8 Go to Your Room and Pray in Secret
9 Let Him Who Is without Sin Cast the First Stone .
Part Three Resurrection: Getting Radically in on New Life
10 You Cannot Serve Both God and Mammon
11 Tempted in the Desert
12 Store Up Your Treasure in Heaven.
13 Unless a Grain of Wheat Fall to the Ground
Endnotes
About the Author

The author writes from personal experience. And it is experience that is very different than the road most of us will walk. But heathers vulnerability, openness, and transparency about her own struggles and the way her own prayer life has changed and progresses serve as an example to us all. It serves as an example of not just wanting prayer in our life, but about walking the walking. Growing prayer as part of our life, day in and day out. About waling prayer.

This was my introduction to the writings of Heather King. But it will not be the last. The writing style is very engaging. It is easily accessible. I really enjoyed this book and immediately though of a few friends who would enjoy it and a few others who would really benefit from reading it. So sometimes when you get what you are not expecting it is exactly what you need, and that is how I feel about this book!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Heather King:
Holy Desperation: Praying as If Your Life Depends on It
Parched: A Memoir
Shirt of Flame: A Year with St. Therese of Lisieux
Redeemed: A Spiritual Misfit Stumbles Toward God, Marginal Sanity, and the Peace That Passes All Understanding
Stumble: Virtue, Vice, and the Space Between
Stripped: Cancer, Culture, and the Cloud of Unknowing
Loaded: Money and the Spirituality of Enough
Holy Days and Gospel Reflections
Devil's Hoof

The Mystery of the Honeymoon - Manuel Alfonseca - The Sleuths of the Spanish Transition Book 4

The Mystery of the Honeymoon
The Sleuths of the Spanish Transition Book 4
Manuel Alfonseca
Schedas 
ASIN B0762TRYLG

So far this year I have read five books by Manuel Alfonseca, and of those five four are from this series. I have greatly enjoyed these books and look forward to reading many more books by Manuel in the years to come. This specific series The Sleuths of the Spanish Transition has been wonderful to read. And this fourth volume just recently became available in English. I have really enjoyed this series, and was hoping there would be more books. The good news is there is a fifth book coming. The bad news is that is the planned end of the series.

This book is set several years after the first book in the series. Gonzalo has finished his studies. And as can be guessed by the title this mystery takes place during his and Vicky's honey moon. It seems that mysteries keep finding them. In this case as they are leaving for Paris on their honeymoon they are approached by Inspector Gutierrez, and he asks them the favour of delivering a package to an Inspector Lemoine. Gutierrez is pressed for time on a case and cannot wait for normal post, and does not trust a standard messenger. But he does trust the young couple who have helped solve some cases with him in the past.

From the moment they accept the little package things change. From someone trying to slip into their birth on the train, and an attempted purse snatching as they arrive at their hotel, to their new hotel room being ransacked while they are both out. They meet a rich British benefactor who appears to be helping them. They hear rumours about a master criminal. And all the while they find themselves deeper and deeper in the case and less on a honeymoon away together.

In this case both Gonzalo and Vicky need to use all their skills. Each of them have second languages and needs to carry on some of their conversations while traveling. Both must use all their reasoning to piece together the clues, especially once they are separated. They need to solve the mystery before they become either the next victims or take the blame for the crimes. 

This was another really fun read. And I eagerly anticipate book 5. This book is available in English and is translated by the author himself. I still wish and hope that the series will be extended beyond the current 5 planned and penned volumes. They are great clean fun mysteries to read! 

I continue to stand by my statement that if you are a fan of Coelho, Marquez or Saramago you owe it to yourself to give this author a try! And if you are not fans of those three buy love a great adventure or mystery novel, give this series a go, they are great reads and I am sure you will not be disappointed! I must state clearly that I highly recommend this whole series, and specifically this book.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Manuel Alfonseca in English:
Jacob's Ladder
The Ruby of the Ganges
The Last Dinosaur
Ennia in Faerie
The Heirloom of King Scorpion
Beyond the Black Hole
The Water of Life

Albatros

A face in Time: 1789-2089

Hidden Hand

...

Earth-9 Colony Series:

The History of the Earth-9 Colony

The Earth-9 Colony Revisited

…

Solar System Series:

Under an Orange Sky

Descent into the Hell of Venus

Operation Quatuor

Operation Viginti

...

The Sleuths of the Spanish Transition Series:
Quetzalcoatl's Zahir
The Mystery of the Haunted House
The Mystery of the Sapphire Bracelet
The Mystery of the Honeymoon
The Mystery of the Egyptian Vulture Country House
...

Chronicles of the Magic Jigsaw Puzzle Series:
The Journey of Tivo the Dauntless
The Mystery of the Black Lake
The Silver Swan
The Secret of the Ice Field

The Lost Continent

…

The Chronicles of the Aeolian Family Series:

The Seal of Aeolus

The Emerald Tablet

The Tartessian Crown

…

Non-Fiction:
Human Cultures & Evolution
World Population: Past, Present, & Future

The Fifth Level of Evolution

...

Shadow of a Pug - Casey Lyall - Howard Wallace, P.I. Book 2

Shadow of a Pug
Howard Wallace, P.I. Book 2
Casey Lyall
Sterling Children's Books
ISBN 9781454919551
eISBN 9781454919964
ASIN B0759VT91X

I read this book immediately after reading book 1 in the series, Howard Wallace, P.I., I read both books over the span of three days. In fact I could hardly wait, I had bought the eBook of this volume before I had even finished book 1. I must admit I picked up a signed copy of book 1 at the launch. But being a physical book it sat on my bed site table for almost a year. Twice I picked it up, did not finish a chapter and put it down. But once I had the eBook I just could not stop. 

With my dual form of dyslexia I never read much as a child, it was only after grade 8 that I became an avid reader. And then in university I did two different children's lit courses. And through those fell in love with middle grade and young adult books. I have a few criteria for what makes a book great, first is did it have an impact on me, second is can I immediately think of people who would enjoy reading it, and third do I want to read it with my kids either now or when they are older. This book hits solidly on all three scales. 

Much like book 1 I believe that this book is well written. The text is tight. It is a great read for the middle grades or tweens. I have started reading this series with my oldest and already have plans to read it with my middle child early next year. In my review of book 1 I stated that:  "in many ways it reads like a young Spencer for Hire. Or like Mike Hammer in print. Reading this book took me back to my own days in school, but also when I was older and started watching detective TV shows with my father." And that statement is even truer with book two. I love he characters and their relationships. Casey does an amazing job of capturing interpersonal dynamics between the friends, and the former friends. She captures the change in relationships when people go through status changes, and move social groups at school. It also does an excellent job of capturing what can happen when we keep secrets from those we care about. And teaches a bit about learning to unlearn our preconceived notions and mend burnt bridges. 

In some ways this book and series is The Great Mistake Mysteries from Sylvia McNicoll. Both are set in smaller Canadian towns. Both involve children who are on the outside at school. Both involve mysteries and children trying to solve them. And to be honest both are great reads. But in the book Howards quirks were chosen and created by him as a way of coping, where Stephen Nobel's are more of an anxiety disorder issue.

Our cast in this volume really expands. We have the main two from book one, but also the whole basketball team, members of the drama and music clubs, the reporter from the school newspaper, and the captain of the opponents to the basketball team. And of course a missing mascot.

This was a book I could hardly put down. I read it while walking to the bus. I read it while on the bus to work, and I read it on my coffee breaks and lunch at work. It is a wonderful read that I look forward to sharing with my children and someday hopefully grandchildren. And to be honest I hope we see more of the Wallace and Mason Investigative team!

Books by Casey Lyall:
Inky's Great Escape: The Incredible (and Mostly True) Story of an Octopus Escape
...

Howard Wallace, P.I. Series:
Howard Wallace, P.I.
Shadow of a Pug
Sabotage Stage Left
...